Washington Post: New Task for a Budget Straight-Talker“David Broder writes, “As the head of the Government Accountability Office, the auditing arm of Congress,” David Walker “has been perhaps the most outspoken official in Washington warning of the fiscal train wreck that awaits this country unless it mends its ways.” In a recent speech, Walker warned that “largely due to the aging of the baby boomers and rising health care costs, the United States faces decades of red ink. … Over time, the U.S. government could be reduced to doing little more than mailing out Social Security checks to retirees and paying interest on the massive national debt.”Associated Press: AHIP Spent $6.9M Lobbying For Health Care Legislation“America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), “the trade group that represents the health insurance industry, spent $6.9 million to lobby the federal government last year.” The “group lobbied on legislation to continue” SCHIP. But President Bush “twice has vetoed efforts to add up to 10-million children to the program over the next five years.” AHIP “also lobbied for legislation that would allow the marketing of generic biotech drugs.” Washington Times: Digital TV Switch May Lead To Hazardous Electronics Disposal“Millions of analog TV sets could be discarded before the digital TV transition next year as Americans upgrade to high-definition flat panels. Chances are most of them will end up in ditches in the developing world.” These discarded electronics are “toxic, containing heavy metals such as mercury and lead, as well as flame retardants that give off harmful fumes when burned.”